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Michelle Obama won’t take on GOP

Obama is aggressively campaigning during the final 2012 stretch. | AP Photo

Democrats have, in fact, been taken aback by Ann Romney’s venture into the mudslinging of the campaign — instead of floating above the fray. She has given endless TV interviews — some of them a bit testy — and seems quite comfortable attacking the president. Most recently, Romney said “it’s time for the grown-up” to take over the country, blamed the Obama campaign for her husband’s low standing among Hispanics and boasted that Mitt Romney was going to save the country.

“Michelle Obama could never get away with saying those things,” said a Democratic operative who has worked with spouses in presidential campaigns. “There would be an uproar.”

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In 2008, Michelle Obama learned that the hard way when her candor landed her in hot water and drove down her approval ratings. She was mocked for talking about her husband’s dirty socks and pilloried by Republicans for saying: “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country.” The right portrayed her as opinionated and angry, and the conservative National Review dubbed her: “Mrs. Grievance.”

Consequently, the first lady has been a lot more cautious since those tumultuous early days.

She declared herself “mom in chief,” and over the past three years has developed into a role model and icon, advocating for healthy living and helping military families and inner-city youth. She has worked out with contestants on “The Biggest Loser,” and appeared on sitcoms.

But expectations were high for the first lady, and some advocacy groups say privately that this Harvard-educated lawyer is selling herself and the country short by not being vocal on controversial issues like gay rights and abortion.

Still, Michelle Obama’s popularity is in the stratosphere — particularly among the base and grass-roots supporters. Convention Chief Executive Officer Stephen Kerrigan credits her for involving the local community at the convention — with events like the Carolina festival, which he says is unique.

Democratic convention organizers and campaign officials are hopeful the first lady can make a case for giving her husband four more years to finish what he started — in the same way Laura Bush did for her husband in 2004. “We are looking at two starkly different visions for the country and she will share her husband’s vision for moving forward,” says Valerie Jarrett, a White House official and longtime family friend.

“She’s the embodiment of the American dream that they want for everyone,” adds Jarrett.

What she won’t do, sources say, is make the same kind of overt appeal to women that Ann Romney did with her “I love women” squeal in Tampa.

“Mrs. Obama reflects a highly educated professional partnership with her husband that naturally appeals to modern women,” Mandel says. “Mrs. Romney’s message was a message that seemed to reflect an old-fashioned domestic bliss time of white picket fences. … I would be surprised if her speech appealed to women who are swing voters, working women, single heads of households.”

Michelle Obama is quite active this week in Charlotte. She will meet with African-American and Hispanic caucuses and speak at the Human Rights Campaign/Victory Fund luncheon honoring LGBT elected officials. On Thursday, she and Jill Biden will help assemble USO care packages with delegates for military personnel overseas.

Coming out of the convention, Obama will continue to be deployed to raise money and rally the base in swing states. She has also been advocating her latest campaigns initiative — “It Takes One” — to register voters.

“Michelle didn’t ask to be a public figure but she has found a comfortable space for herself, and she’s invaluable,’ says Axelrod. “And every time she is out there, it’s a good day for us.”

I'm glad our First Lady is going to stay positive. Criticism of Republicans' voting records and plotted agenda for our future is not only warranted but vital given how much Republicans lie and obfuscate to disguise their wolfish ways. But the Democratic National Convention stage will see a long parade of very able critics -- most able, the president himself -- so I like it that Michelle Obama will be above the war of words and ideas and be the good heart at the heart of her husband's policies and agenda for our future. We don't need the defensive, elitist, hyperbolically aggressive sniping that we have heard from Ann Romney on the campaign trail. When she accuses the Obama campaign team of "trying to kill Mitt," she sounds like an overreacting upper-class snob that is appalled by the effrontery of anyone who criticizes her husband, a "model citizen" of the one percent.

Well,with obama's record 0f TAKING from the middle class,and GIVING school grants,health insurance,and money to the poor,she doesnt have much to say,huh?We see who obama cares about,at OUR expense! Free money for people who DONT want to work,at OUR expense.Thats hope and change???

Go First Lady Michelle Obama. We know you will do us proud. There is a sense of authenticity about our First Lady that just is not present in Mrs Mitt Romney. (Sorry cannot remember her first name) This is not to say Mrs Mitt is not a wonderful person, she just comes across as phony person, who touts her 5 sons, and her illnesses as her strengths. To the average person, having a bunch of kids, without knowing how they will be fed or clothed, while having debilitating life threatening illnesses and no insurance - that is everyday life. That is a true strength. So to reiterate, Michelle Obama, our First Lady is an inspiration and a role model - we look forward to her realism and her ability inspire women.

Finally, thanks to our First Lady for her support to our troops - the forgotten group in Mr & Mrs Mitt's world, who only remembers them long enough to send them to Syria and Iran in yet another senseless war.

If you really want the dirt on Ms. Michelle, read these 2 articles. The first story is abour what she really thinks of the poor Blacks in Chicago and the second story is about what the Dems and Chicago political machine is up to with regard to your patient privacy and it affects every single American, not just us living in Chicago. Wake up people. You have no idea what you voted into Office in 2008. She is just as dangerous as her husband.

Go First Lady Michelle Obama. We know you will do us proud. There is a sense of authenticity about our First Lady that just is not present in Mrs Mitt Romney. (Sorry cannot remember her first name) This is not to say Mrs Mitt is not a wonderful person, she just comes across as phony person, who touts her 5 sons, and her illnesses as her strengths. To the average person, having a bunch of kids, without knowing how they will be fed or clothed, while having debilitating life threatening illnesses and no insurance - that is everyday life. That is a true strength. So to reiterate, Michelle Obama, our First Lady is an inspiration and a role model - we look forward to her realism and her ability inspire women.

Finally, thanks to our First Lady for her support to our troops - the forgotten group in Mr & Mrs Mitt's world, who only remembers them long enough to send them to Syria and Iran in yet another senseless war.

You're just another tool of the Dems. You seriously believe that Ms. Michelle supports our troops? You must think that our troops and their wives are stupid. They basically despise Obama and his wife. Most of our troops are Ron Paul and Romney supporters. WAKE UP.

I think the DNC will stay away from Romney bashing. Romney has done a fine job of revealing himself as out of touch.

The theme of the DNC will be comparing the candidates' plans and policies, The GOP convention was just a bashing of the President, and not even presenting Romney's plans or making comparisons. President Obama and other DNC speakers will get into more substance and serious talk. You did not hear anything about Romney's $5 trillion tax cut plan last week. You will hear about it this week in comparative analysis. Remember, a majority of Americans want to see tax increases for the wealthy, not tax cuts. You're going to hear some common sense plans and policies this week.

Also, DNC speakers will not try to be comedians like Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee, and Mitch McConnell and several other RNC flops. They went over like a cement block dropped into a sandbox.

Also, Obama will get a significant bounce out of this convention, regardless of what the jobs report says on Friday morning. We do know this about the employment report for sure -- it will show positive private sector job growth for the 30th consecutive month.

They are both wonderful women and both have admirable qualities. As for the troops despising the Obamas. You are living in a parallel universe. I am surrounded by military bases and you couldn't be more wrong. It is the Romney Ryan budget that cuts veteran benefits by 13%. Way to many of the troops get by with Food Stamps and they hear how they are leaches on society. They know the Republicans are saber rattling with Iran and are tired of repeated deployments.

No, just clueless and a liberal elitist. Notice how the Dems have kept a toe on he since last April? No $3,600.00 jackets, no $200,000.00 vacations and no around the world trips on the taxpayer's dime? The woman is so out of touch, the Marie Antoinette comparisons will be back. The woman has no clue about any problems facing middle class Americans.